15 Can't-Miss Events This March In SoCal

St. Patrick's Day, the spring equinox, and full school and work schedules are competing for time with can't-miss events in Southern California in March.

Daylight saving time also begins on March 8, and that means an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day to squeeze in activities.

Events you won't want to miss include the iconic Flower Fields, Holi and The Beach, and Wildflower 5K Trail Run/Walk.

Are you planning an event this spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Here are our picks for March:

Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour

• When: Through March 26
• Where: Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, La Jolla
• What: The Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour features themed activities throughout the aquarium, including a photo opportunity featuring characters from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game.

Celtic Festival

• When: March 1
• Where: Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
• What: The festival features performances by the McNulty Irish Dancers, lucky clover art projects, face painting and complimentary cookies.

Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale

• When: Feb. 20-March 8
• Where: South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa
• What: The classic fairy tale gets a modern makeover as a bouncy, bilingual musical.

Circus Vargas

• When: Feb. 20-March 8
• Where: Westfield Plaza Bonita, National City
• What: This two-hour family-friendly show features world-renowned artists, aerialists, acrobats, comedians, daredevils and more.

Desert Mountains Art Fair

• When: March 14
• Where: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, Palm Desert
• What: Support local artists and find gifts and desert mementos while enjoying the natural beauty of the desert mountains.

Flower Fields

• When: March 1-May 10
• Where: The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, Carlsbad
• What: For 10 weeks only, the annual attraction welcomes guests to explore 55 acres of giant tecolote ranunculus. A full slate of activities is planned for the season, including live music performances, workshops and wellness classes.

Holi and The Beach

• When: March 7
• Where: Seaside Lagoon, Redondo Beach
• What: The event returns to Redondo Beach's Seaside Lagoon, transforming the waterfront into a full-scale, color-drenched color festival.

Kinderkarneval

• When: March 1
• Where: Old World Biergarten Festival Hall and Concert Venue, Huntington Beach
• What: Celebrate Kinderkarneval with a free family event featuring music, games, costumes and joyful German traditions with the German School Camp.

Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker

• When: Feb. 28-March 1
• Where: Chinatown Central Plaza, Los Angeles
• What: The L.A. Chinatown Firecracker is one of the largest and oldest running races in the country, with its Lunar New Year run, walk, cycling and dog walk events taking place over the weekend from the historic Los Angeles Chinatown Plaza.

Marinelli Bros. Circus

• When: Feb. 25-March 9
• Where: Plaza West Covina, West Covina
• What: The two-hour family-friendly show offers jaw-dropping stunts, soaring aerialists and world-class performers, according to the website.

San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering

• When: March 7
• Where: Petco Park, San Diego
• What: The event offers a full day of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) fun provided by hundreds of San Diego area businesses, schools, libraries and museums.

Seven Seas Food Festival

• When: Feb. 27-April 26
• Where: SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
• What: This year's menu features more than 150 food and drink options inspired by dishes from around the world.

St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival

• When: March 14
• Where: Balboa Park, San Diego
• What: The parade is free to attend and will have nearly 100 entries of Irish organizations, honorees, fire and police entries, horses, clowns and marching bands, according to organizers. There will also be two entertainment stages, food, beer and wine, a vendor area, and a kids' zone.

Sugar Plum Arts and Crafts Festival

• When: Feb. 27-March 1
• Where: OC Fair and Event Center, Los Alamitos Building, Costa Mesa
• What: Sugar Plum is the biggest family-owned arts and crafts show in Southern California. They offer thousands of handmade crafts from more than 175 artisans.

Wildflower 5K Trail Run/Walk

• When: March 14
• Where: La Quinta Cove Trails Parking Lot, La Quinta
• What: Lace up for the run/walk with Friends of the Desert Mountains, launching at a brand-new venue in La Quinta Cove.